Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1887-08-16
CAPTAIN THUNDERBoLr.
A FoRoorTES Culinary Of HALr a
CENIuRY A0o.

lIiaa. william Goo!i. In ne rorsiAai rfe''
In the Water Of 1884 there came TO
Portland stranger oiremArkAble appear.
.nee named Johnson. lie was shy abou,
talking Of himself. OF where he came
from. lie appeared to be past 80 years
Old. Of slmOs, giant stature. comPae,ly
built. and evidently possessed Of grea,
strength. lie had pisreins black eyes
aud dark skin. People who me, him in
the stree, turned 20 look after the remark.
able figure.
johnson took lodgings q, the boarding
house Of Mrs. Dayidsoa. the mother OF
Charles Dayidson. the well remembered
fire engineer Of 1851 and years after.
The house was on Middle street, opposite
King 4 Dexiers. Johnson opened a
barber shop and wa. evidently 'killei
workman a, the trade. To those Of hi'
patrons who were inclined 10 talk. he was
aaable and entertaining. Iii. striking
and sturdy from seemed better fitted for
q prison keeper than ior q barber, bat
/, roughi him patronage. lie needed
no advertisement. The ladies soon
found oa, ,hA, be could dress their hair,
a. well as ,h., Of the other sex. John
son evidently understood human nature,
and made an effort to please bis lady
patrons. lie soon had more business
than he could do alone.
When shooting time came, Johnson be-
came uneasy in bis shop. aud frsquently
wen, ou, with his gun and usually
brought in gams. lie seemed TO tire OF
hi. inactive life. A, ,hA, time Wild pix.
con. were always plen,ly in berry time,
but now they have found more attractive
food In the wheat fields OF the West.
Daring his first summer here. johnson
weni to Mekennsy. who kept livery
stable on Msrke. street. where the ice
house now Is, and asked for horse and
eh.i.e fJr few days TO 20 in parsui, OF
pigeon. Af,er fixing the price per day,
and the time when he would probably
retain, the barber lei, for bis shop, say
ing ,hA, he would call for the horse and
eh1i.e early the next morning. Jonas
Mills, = grocer. owned and occupied a
store where the Old City Hall stands,
and was a customer OF JOhnson's, and
while in hi. shop Johnson borrowed Of
Mil. fifteen dollars, telling him OF his ia.
tended absence. and Mrs. Dividson ,esii-
fed ,ha, he paid bis board bill before he
left.
A year or two before our narrative be-
gins, highwsyman ina aehaise me, Major
Bray and wife, who were riding on Med.
ford turnpike, and in answer to his de-
mand, seeing that he WAS armed, Bray
handed him his money. The robber no.
,iced Mrs. Bray hiding her watch chain.
when he politely said; "MaiAm. yoa
are giving yourself unnecessary trouble ;
| never take anything from the ladies'"
The robber politely raised hi. hs. TO
Mrs. Bray at parting, and drove OIL.
Oa hi. arrival in ChArlsslown. Bray aud
his wife 30 well described the highway.
man ,ha, one Of the several puraers
sooa 90, on hi. track aud followed him
10 Springfield, whsre be was arrested
and brought TO Cambridge. lie was
identified by Bray and, tried and hung.
las the law then required, a, seehmere
point. The daring robbery 10 50 public
a thoroughflrs. let no hope OF pardon.
and Martin las he gave his nams) began
TO prepare for his doom. lie wrote "a
confession" giving the dOing' Of his
gang in Euglsnd. claiming that the iurn.
pike robbery. and the trea'men, oi the
lady was according to the rules Of the
gang. lie gave several instances where
they rish,ed the wrOng,o!helpls" people,
even to their relief by money. Martin
claimed to have been the second leader
Of the gang under the name OF "Light.
foot" Tha, the leader Was a man Of
power and judgment. who was called
"Cap,ain Tnunderbolt from his appear
ance snd characteristics. Martins book
was printed and sold by thousands all
over the country frs, because such read.
ing Was popular. and sseond. people be-
lieyed tha, however bad . man was be
usually told the truth when the halter
was hanging over him. How many eul-
pri,s confess their crimes under the sys.
TEN OF life Imprisonment.
Soon after Johnson left town bis room.
mate casually said that perhaps he might
not return. and when pressed for his
reason for his suspicion, gave some secrets
which Johnson let drop. in,ims,ing that
he was the vsriiable hero Of Martins
gang, Captain ThunderbOls. and his per.
son answered well the description s all
agreed. The town was aroused. think
ing !, had been harboring the daring
OUTLAW. Johnson's customers passed